Four Corners

Disney fans who are serious about visiting Mickey and his friends. Europeans on summer holiday. Northerners escaping cold winters. These are just a few of the residents of Champions Gate, a sprawling master-planned community in Davenport. With its championship golf courses, glittering pools, and luxury spa, living in Champions Gate feels a little like living in a five-star hotel. However, instead of a room, residents get to live in houses they own, and have a chance to supplement some of the mortgage when they’re out of town. “A lot of people will buy something so they can use it on their vacations and then rent it out as a short-term rental or as an Airbnb,” says Emily Armstrong, a Realtor with Keller Williams at the Parks Realty who sells throughout Central Florida. “The community is tailored for people to have fun on vacation.” Contemporary homes are standard, in neutral colors, with low-pitched roofs. Most were built in the 2010s, though there are some 2020 builds, too. They feature anywhere from two bedrooms to eight, and all have two-car garages. They sit close on compact lots, even the larger homes, so yard space is limited, but HOA fees ensure that lawns are neatly landscaped and curb appeal is high. Sidewalks line the quiet streets, giving residents room for evening walks or bike rides. Prices range from almost $300,000 for a two-bedroom bungalow to just over a million dollars for an eight-bedroom estate. The few homes on the neighborhood’s east side are vacation homes, costing $2 million or more for eight bedrooms. Three- and four-bedroom townhouses are also available, ranging from $290,000 to almost $500,000, as well as two- and three-bedroom condos, ranging from $145,000 to nearly $400,000. Regarding crime, Champions Gate scores a 4 out of 10 on the CAP Index, the same as the national average. Residents don't have to go far for outdoor recreation; the onsite Oasis clubhouse offers luxury amenities. Those wanting to practice their backstroke can swim at the pool, and families have an activity pool with a waterslide. There is a sand volleyball and basketball court where friends can challenge each other to a game, and golf fans can tee off on two championship courses. Those looking for green space can head to the nearby Northeast Regional Park, which has soccer fields, baseball fields, plus more basketball courts. Residents pick up groceries and other essentials at Publix in the Champions Crossing shopping center near Highway 27. Just south of the neighborhood is Posner Park Outlet Mall, a larger shopping center that offers Target, BJs Wholesale and DICK’s Sporting Goods. While there, residents can catch a movie at Cineapolis Luxury Cinemas, which offers the latest blockbusters, plus an IMAX theater and a full bar. Or they can grab a bite to eat at The Hungry Crab, a local favorite for its steamed and fried seafood, and Mannino's Pizza, which offers old-school pizzeria vibes with its classic Italian dishes. For dining closer to home, David’s Club is a popular steakhouse inside the Omni Orlando Resort with a hangout-type atmosphere, complete with a pool table. The Osceola School District serves the area and offers School Choice, which allows families to choose which school to send their kids to. One available school is Westside K-8 School, which has a C rating on Niche and a student-teacher ratio of 18-to-1. From there, kids can move on to Poinciana High School, which has a B-minus on Niche and serves about 2,500 students. Poinciana High offers different career academies where students gain hands-on knowledge in their chosen field. The academies include Culinary Arts, Finance, Health and Media, Marketing and Management. Interstate 4 runs along the neighborhood's east side and travels to the Disney parks, about 12 miles northeast, and downtown Orlando, about 35 miles northeast. The ChampionsGate ER is a new facility for adult and pediatric emergency care and is part of HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital. It's conveniently located near the Preserve at ChampionsGate apartment complex on the neighborhood’s east side.

Kissimmee’s Happy Trails is a rural enclave offering the feel of secluded, country living while being a stone’s throw from big-city life. Residents in this private community enjoy upscale ranches and estates on some of the largest wooded lots in the area. Happy Trails is one of six rural enclaves in Osceola County, and as the name suggests, opportunities to explore the great outdoors abound here. “This area is just so unique; there’s nothing else like it. It’s close to everything, but you’re in the middle of nowhere,” says Nicholas Stone, Happy Trails Property Association board member and five-year resident. Stone says after looking for a year and trying to get into the high-demand community, he, his wife and children moved from Clermont, Florida to escape the typical suburbia. “We came here for the tranquility,” he says. “We lived in a cookie-cutter community, and you had no space; you could hear everything going on. Here, you have privacy and the beauty of nature around you.” Happy Trails’ proximity to major thoroughfares allows residents to reach Walt Disney World Resort in 7 miles, and many other Central Florida attractions are under 10 miles away. “You can get to the I-4 in 4 minutes; Disney is 15 minutes away. You can be so many places so quickly.” <br><br>The gated Happy Trails neighborhood offers traditional Craftsman-style homes, custom-built modern mansions, million-dollar estates and ranches. “No two homes are the same,” Stone says. “We have everything from a couple thousand square feet to one being built now that’s 18,000 square feet.” The 1,900-acre community is home to approximately 150 houses and vacant lots for those who want to build their dream home. And it’s steadily expanding. “They don’t last long on the market, and we’re growing quickly,” Stone says. “There is quite a bit of new construction for single-family homes. We have five or six that are being built now.” James Donovan, President/Broker for Team Donovan, who’s been selling in the area for over 20 years, echoes Stone’s sentiments on the appeal of Happy Trails. “It’s a huge parcel of land, so it’s like being in the countryside in another state, but it’s close to Disney,” he says. “Having no HOA is another big draw for many people. “They look here because they want to play by their own rules. You don’t have restrictions here; you can build a custom house or a warehouse and not pay any dues.” Most single-family homes were built in the late 2010s and range from approximately $270,000 for a three-bedroom around 1,400 square feet to over $1 million for an eight-bedroom home over 4,000 square feet on multiple acres or lakefront property. “Post-COVID, it picked up here; people wanted more land,” Donovan says. “Most lots are anywhere from 10 or 20 acres.” Stone says lots must be at least 5 acres, and while many people might see that as a hassle, Happy Trails residents welcome it. “We have neighbors you can see in the distance, but they're not right on your doorstep,” he says. The property owners' association has no control over your property, so many people have horses, some have cows and sheep. You can have your animals, a boat or an RV here.” Lawns are well landscaped with winding stone walkways, and driveways are large enough for boats or RVs. Residents enjoy covered porches and pools with lanais. Many properties come outfitted with all the bells and whistles for horse enthusiasts, including barns, stalls and fenced paddocks. A canopy of towering mature oaks blankets the neighborhood, allowing for ultimate privacy and tranquility. <br><br>While there aren’t carved-out trails in the community, Stone says residents stay active. “A lot of people go around on bikes or golf carts. People walk in the morning, too, before it gets too hot.” Northeast Regional Park is 3 miles north of Happy Trails. The complex offers multiple baseball, soccer, football and lacrosse fields. The grounds also include a nature-inspired playground, tennis courts, a boat launch and a fishing pier. Pet owners can let their dogs play in the dog park or walk along its trails. Old Lake Davenport is next door to Northeast Regional Park, a hot spot for fishing, kayaking and jet skiing. Happy Trails is close to three golf courses. The 36-hole private Champions Gate Country Club is south of Happy Trails, which offers three golf courses and seven tennis courts. The 18-hole public Highlands Reserve Golf Club is to the west and was ranked among the Top 25 Most Improved Golf Courses in the country by GolfPass in 2024. Hilochee Wildlife Management Area is 8 miles north for those who want a deeper trek into nature. The refuge offers biking, hiking, fishing and horseback riding. <br><br>The closest shopping and dining options are along Highway 27, a few miles west of the community. Anchored by Publix, Berry Town Center is also home to Sunday’s Grill, a popular UK-inspired pub known for its fish and chips, English breakfasts and live music. One mile north, residents can enjoy sushi and bento boxes at Kumo Japanese Restaurant, burgers and hand-cut fries at the no-frills Adler’s restaurant and mofongo and other traditional Puerto Rican dishes at Buen Café Latin Food. Rolling Oaks Commons Plaza is a 7-mile drive, which offers more retail options and big-box stores. A wider variety of boutiques, fine dining and nightlife await 7 miles north at the Promenade at Sunset Walk. “There is a lot to do on Margarita Boulevard,” says Stone of the shopping complex’s main street. “We like Rock & Brews.” <br><br>Osceola School District serves the area, and students attend Westside K-8 School in the neighboring Four Corners community, finishing their education at Celebration High School in the Celebration neighborhood. Westside, which earned a C on Niche, provides high school-level courses in foreign language, geometry, and biology for middle schoolers. Earning an A-minus on Niche, Celebration High is ranked the fifth-best public high school in the county and offers tennis and swimming teams. <br><br>Happy Trails Property Owners Association doesn’t host specific events for the community, but Stone says the tight-knit neighborhood comes together on its own with celebrations. “It’s a family-oriented neighborhood. That’s what we enjoy, and that’s what keeps us here,” says Stone. “My wife and I have a Christmas party and invite the neighbors, and we had 30 people last year. People can put names to houses.”<br>It’s also a community that comes together in bad times. “Some trees came down last night, knocking out the power,” Stone says. “Neighbors were out there clearing the road. Everybody helps each other.” <br><br>Happy Trails is conveniently located a few miles from U.S. Highway 27, and Route 429 borders its eastern edge, connecting to Interstate 4, making getting around the area a breeze. Downtown Kissimmee is 22 miles away, Walt Disney World is 7 miles away, and Orlando International Airport is 28 miles away. The nearest hospital is Orlando Health Emergency Room and Medical Pavilion—Four Corners, 5 miles north. Residents will need a car as there is no public transit.

Reunion, a master-planned community south of Orlando, doesn’t just offer resort-style living. It offers the entire resort. Reunion sets itself apart among similar developments by taking the ultimate Florida vacation experience and transforming it into a lifestyle. “The difference is the amount of amenities the community has to offer,” says Jomar Concepcion, a Realtor with eXp Realty based in the neighboring master-planned community of Celebration. “You have the three golf courses, tennis courts, walking trails and a waterpark for the children. It covers all the bases.” Reunion Resort & Hotel is a premier vacation destination, but at the heart of the community are several gated neighborhoods anchored by a variety of high-value housing.<br><br>The community’s non-vacation housing is occupied primarily by full-time residents and snowbirds who have bought a second home. The neighborhoods are laid out in traditional settings, with sidewalks populated by small, well-manicured lawns featuring plenty of greenery. Pools populate large backyards. Patriots Landing is the most architecturally distinct of the neighborhoods, offering pastel-colored Key West homes starting around $600,000. Liberty Bluff’s courtyard-style homes start around $750,000. Golf course neighborhoods include Homestead, Bears Den and The West Side, all of which feature a collection of multimillion-dollar luxury homes but also offer more affordable bungalow-style housing starting as low as the mid-$400,000s. “Reunion has some of the most expensive homes in Osceola County, but it’s very blended,” Concepcion says. “You have townhouses, expensive townhouses, condos, expensive condos, houses and really expensive houses.” Townhouses and condos can be found in neighborhoods such as Carriage Pointe, Eagle Trace and Heritage Crossing, which feature housing starting in the $300,000 range.<br><br>The community’s signature golf courses were designed by Jack Nickalus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, who won a combined 33 majors during their playing days. “It’s a golfer’s paradise,” says Hazel Heyer, a listing agent with Keller Williams Legacy who sells property in the Greater Orlando area. The Nicklaus course is first among equals and stands alone on the community’s west side. It is the largest of the three par-72 layouts at 7,219 yards. The Watson and Palmer courses are laid out next to one another near the resort hotel on the community’s east side. They span 7,154 and 6,916 yards, respectively. “It is ideal for snowbirds,” Concepcion says, “with the golf courses in a guard-gated community. You’ll see a lot of older, retired clientele in the winter.” The Golfzon Leadbetter Academy, a world-class golf school, is based in Reunion and offers cutting-edge training. While it is more of an attraction for vacationers, residents do have access to a 5-acre waterpark, which features a lazy river, waterslide and shaded cabanas. The tennis and pickleball center features state-of-the-art clay courts for daily play, lessons and clinics. A Reunion Resort membership is required for access to the community’s amenities. The initiation fee is $7,500. Monthly dues are $475 for the gold membership and $780 for the platinum membership. <br><br>Dining options are plentiful in the community. 7593 Chophouse, a traditional fine-dining restaurant, and Eleven, a rooftop restaurant offering small bites and craft cocktails, are the featured dinner destinations located at The Grande in the heart of the community. There’s also a sushi bar in the lobby. The pair of clubhouses that serve the three golf courses offers convenient dining throughout the day. The Nicklaus clubhouse hosts a Sunday brunch with live entertainment. Additional options are located on the community’s southern edge along with a Publix and an Aldi. About 5 miles north of the community is a popular contemporary commercial and entertainment center. “One of the best attractions that isn’t Disney is the Sunset Walk at Margaritaville,” Concepcion says. “It’s a little outdoor mall with a lot of restaurants.” Target anchors a concentration of retail stores about 5 miles south of the community.<br><br>A luxury resort doesn’t lend itself to a lot of children. “HOAs are expensive; homes are expensive,” Concepcion says. “Typically, it’s the mid-40s and up I see when I’m there.” However, students who do live in the community can attend Westside K-8, a C-rated school by Niche, and Celebration High, an A-minus-rated school whose offerings include Air Force JROTC and a Residential Property Management Program.<br><br>While the self-contained neighborhoods offer walkability, there is no public transportation. Therefore, a car is required for travel outside the community. Fortunately, Interstate 4 bisects Reunion. A portion of the housing is close enough that noise could be a concern, but much of it is buffered by trees and other greenery to lessen the impact. I-4 leads directly into Downtown Orlando about 25 miles north. “Some residents probably work for Disney, but more than likely, if you live in Reunion, you’re going to work in Orlando,” Concepcion says. The State Route 429 bypass, which runs through part of the community’s west side, provides direct access to Disney World and its universe about 8 miles away.

Acadia Estates is a luxury gated suburb offering homebuyers a resort lifestyle immersed in entertainment. Located in Osceola County, Florida, residents are a stone’s throw from Walt Disney World Resort, a menagerie of other theme parks, golf courses, sports arenas and Margaritaville. “It’s a mix of tourists, snowbirds with second homes and full-time residents,” says Michelle Howard, a local Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, serving the area for over six years. “The people who live there enjoy the combination of feeling like they’re on vacation while also being able to get to know their neighbors.”<br>Part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metro Area, Acadia Estates is also surrounded by outdoor recreational opportunities, from prestigious Professional Golf Association courses to lakes within the neighborhood to a cluster of lakes to the north and Lake Tohopekaliga, the largest lake in Osceola County, is a short drive south. The wealth of amenities combined with luxury real estate is drawing more permanent residents to this heavily touristed town. <br><br>Acadia Estates has retail and dining options in and around the resorts and sprawling shopping complexes like the Promenade at Sunset Walk and Formosa Gardens Village. El Jefe Tequilas Taco Cantina is known for its birria tacos and elote and carries 250 tequilas. The walkable and bikeable shopping complex also offers pulled pork sandwiches and other barbecue classics at Lizzie’s Memphis-style BBQ, brick oven pizzas from Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and upscale options like BR77 Brazilian Steakhouse and seafood spot, The Wharf. For nightlife, GameTime provides the classic arcade experience with pub fare and tiki drinks, and beachy tunes can be found at Bahama Breeze or the Salty Rim Bar & Grill, poolside at Margaritaville Resort Orlando. Walmart is off Route 192 for essentials 3 miles away, and Target and Dollar Tree are a few miles north of the neighborhood. The closest grocery store is Publix at The Town Center at Orange Lake, 4 miles north. One of the closest communities to Walt Disney World Resort, Acadia Estates residents enjoy easy access to multiple theme parks and sports facilities. The Sunset Walk Slingshot is a thrilling way to see them from a bird’s eye view. Located at the Promenade at Sunset Walk, the 240-foot ride launches thrill-seekers into the air at speeds up to 100 mph. For those who prefer to experience the magic on foot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is 5 miles away, with Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and SeaWorld all just a few miles further. Additional shopping opportunities, entertainment and community events can be found at Disney Springs, an outdoor entertainment district with 23 different live shows, 69 restaurants and 98 stores, which includes the world’s largest Disney store. Old Town is another outdoor entertainment district with a weekly car show and amusement park with old-time carnival rides. The recreated classic Florida town has historical architecture and a unique collection of shops. The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is 7 miles northeast, hosting over 60 sports and thousands of events for amateur and professional athletes. <br><br>Margaritaville residents can access walking trails throughout the resort and Barkaritaville Dog Park, which offers off-leash play for pups. Indian Ridge Village Park is two miles south of Acadia Estates and provides playgrounds, tennis courts, a baseball field and a jogging track. The park also has a community pool with a large, shaded area with picnic tables. Three golf courses are nearby for beginner and seasoned golfers to practice their swings. Mystic Dunes Golf Club is the closest, a resort-style public course designed by Champions Tour Player and NBC Golf Analyst Gary Koch. Players can experience two 9-hole courses with challenges like 80-foot elevation changes and rolling dunes. The club also has a driving range, chipping green and practice bunker. The 54-hole course Orange Lake Golf sits 5 miles north of the neighborhood off Route 192, and Celebrations Golf Club is 7 miles west. Island H20 Live! Waterpark on the Margarita Resort Orlando property helps residents beat the Florida heat. The 14-acre park offers tube slides, a lazy river, wave pools, raft rides and 20 other attractions, along with the latest technology for an interactive experience. Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park Zip Line, 2 miles south, provides a break from the theme parks with an outdoor obstacle course, ziplines and swings. <br><br>Acadia Estates homes sit in the middle of the action, with smaller communities throughout the neighborhood that offer a variety of lifestyles, from custom homes at the 55+ active adult community of Four Seasons at Orlando to the gated Formosa Gardens community and townhouses in Westgate Vacation Villas. “It’s a coveted neighborhood because there are just so many amenities in easy reach,” Howard says. “Everyone is really friendly and active. There are always people out and about, walking their dogs and visiting and going golfing.” Most properties were built in the early 2000s, and single-family homes range from approximately $336,000 for a three-bedroom home around 1,400 square feet to over $1 million for custom lakefront or golf course builds with five or six bedrooms over 4,500 square feet. Condos and townhouses range from $260,000 for a 1,1100 square foot three-bedroom to approximately $620,000 for a four-bedroom over 1,700 square feet. Most million-dollar luxury condos and villas are in the Margaritaville Resort Orlando and Mystic Dunes Golf Club communities. Margaritaville boasts one- to eight-bedroom pastel-colored coastal contemporary and craftsman-style homes with private pools and views of Lake Wilson. Homeowners’ association fees are $554 a month, and the community is within walking distance of the beach-style Margaritaville Resort and St. Somewhere Spa. Key West-style cottages, ranch-style homes and Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired homes comprise the rest of the neighborhood. Communities like the Encore at Reunion Resort, the guard gated golf community, give homeowners access to a clubhouse, tennis and volleyball courts, two playgrounds, a restaurant and a water park. Homeowners’ association fees here are $784 a month. Lot sizes range from 6,500 square feet to a quarter acre. Acadia Estates’ average number of days on the market is much higher than the national average of 44 days, selling after 83 days. Palm trees and mature oaks dot the landscape, and the neighborhood backs up to Lake Wilson and is surrounded by greenery. Homes are close together, but sidewalks are plentiful, and streets are wide, so residents can easily walk around and enjoy their surroundings. Homes have multi-car garages and easy access to surrounding attractions. <br><br>Osceola County School District serves the area, and while there are no schools within Acadia Estates, students can attend Westside School in the Four Corners community to the west, which serves grades kindergarten through eighth grade, followed by Celebration High School in the Celebration community to the east. Westside, which earned a C on Niche, offers arts, music and technology programs. Earning an A-minus on Niche, Celebration High is the fifth-best public high school in the county and provides a Biomed Sciences program and soccer and fishing teams. <br><br>Residents can enjoy nearby events and festivals year-round. Walt Disney World Resort offers popular celebrations like the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, running from August to November, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party from August to October, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January. Island H20 Live! Water Park also offers regular movie nights, live music and DJs in the summer, and foam parties. For more activities, residents can take the short drive to downtown Kissimmee for the annual Kowtown Festival in March, the Festival of Lights in December and artisan markets. <br><br>Getting around the region is a breeze, as the neighborhood is cradled by Route 429 and U.S. Route 192 to the north, which both feed into Interstate 4. Residents can reach Walt Disney World Resort in 4 miles, downtown Kissimmee in 15 miles and Orlando Sanford International Airport is 60 miles away.